State House Forum at CONA 4.11.16

The first Election 2016 Debate at CONA Sarasota offered more than enough sparks flying -- on guns, abortion, regulations, state vs. local power, and much more. Only three candidates attended: James T. Golden and Steve Vernon running for State House Dist. 73 (East Sarasota), and Edward James III, a candidate for State House Dist. 72 (North Sarasota).

(CONA videotapes these forums with thanks to Pete Theissen.) The videos are below in sequence.

James T. Golden

 

Steve Vernon

Edward James III

Dan Lobeck moderated, and CONA President Kafi Benz did the intro and audience questions.

Dan Lobeck

Three other candidates did not attend: Alex Miller, Sara Kathleen Blackwell, and Joe Gruters.

See Herald Tribune - Zac Anderson's story:

SARASOTA - Republican state House candidate Steve Vernon told a crowd gathered in Sarasota Monday for a candidate forum that he "absolutely" believes large donors corrupt the political system and campaign finance reform is needed. 

Vernon's Democratic opponent, James Golden, took the opposite position, saying: “I'm not concerned about the money; what I'm more concerned about is the apathy.”
It was among the many sharp — and sometimes surprising — divides between the three candidates for two Florida House races in a forum at the Sarasota Garden Club hosted by the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations. 

Three candidates — all Republicans — skipped the forum, leaving two Democrats and Vernon to answer questions in front of about 50 people. More here.

Update on 4.11 Candidate Forum

Candidate Forum at CONA: Monday April 11 at 7 pm

Monday, April 11, 2016 at 7 p.m.

- candidate forum -

State House of Representatives

district 72 and district 73

On Monday, April 11, CONA will hold a forum for the candidates campaigning for two seats among our state house of representatives in Tallahassee.

Candidates Edward Elliot James III and Alexandra Cynthia Miller, who are seeking the seat for district 72, and James T. Golden, Joe Gruters, and Steve Vernon, who are seeking the seat for district 73, have been invited to attend.

Using atypical question formats and timing, CONA makes an effort to provide its members and the public with a more thorough understanding of the positions of each candidate than usually achieved at candidate forums. Dan Lobeck will be the moderator of this forum.

Join CONA as we hold the first of our candidate forums for the state and local 2016 elections. Because we and many of our members take vacations in the summer, we are starting early to reach the greatest number of voters. There is much to cover before the primary in August. Our monthly meetings for April, May, and June will be devoted to forums. We video and post our meetings to our site, so our forums will be available through the election in November.

See www.conasarasota.org/meetings for more about CONA. 

social 6:30 p.m. - forum 7:00 p.m.

at the Sarasota Garden Club

neighbors helping neighbors since 1961